CK: Another great profile -- Allison: I've peeked at your Substack and LOVE the fertile comedy goldmine the Popes are! When my kids were young we did some home religious instruction. I picked up a book that provided one page synopsis of all sorts of Saints. I would find names of some of our attendees for a change of pace. When my kids got a hold of the book and shared the absurd stories of what constituted "saintlihood" the book mostly became a punchline. What seemed reasonable and amazing hundreds of years ago often doesn't age very well. It is amazing what we revere once we examine it a bit more.
About 30% of all the Popes are also Saints. When you read stories about either of them it is not a shock that the Venn Diagram has a lot of overlap. It is also not surprising that the Vatican seems vague about the process of making it into either camp :) Catherine of Siena in the modern world would have a padded room at Bellevue just for her ring story alone.
I’ve definitely slipped a few choice words into a lecture. Whenever my high schoolers swear i always admonish them by telling them they can only swear about history.
"I love this picture because it looks like I’m getting ready for my 60-minute Netflix special but really I’m leaning against the wall of a Mexican restaurant and I don’t know what to do with my face ever."
That quote wins the internet today, along with all the images you've included in your interview 😂😂 But mostly the unfortunate onion picture. This was gold! Thank you for sharing it!
Allison, I love the idea of hysterical historical humor. Just subscribed...now to decide....nighttime before go to bed reading...daytime when I should be doing my own writing....with wine....or just anytime! Thanks, CK, for this introduction. You've just broadened my world!
1. Baba Yaga is the ancient old witch from like Slavic fairy tales who lives in a house on chicken legs, wears giant scarves, eats a lot of soup, hates everyone, and curses strangers for coming into her yard. I identify with her on a deep and existential level. Forget cottagecore; let's make 2024 the year of CroneCore. Let me stay inside with my soups and my blankets and my malaise.
2. I feel like every school board in America would have a problem with me right now, but some of my former middle school teachers do subscribe to the newsletter!!
CK: Another great profile -- Allison: I've peeked at your Substack and LOVE the fertile comedy goldmine the Popes are! When my kids were young we did some home religious instruction. I picked up a book that provided one page synopsis of all sorts of Saints. I would find names of some of our attendees for a change of pace. When my kids got a hold of the book and shared the absurd stories of what constituted "saintlihood" the book mostly became a punchline. What seemed reasonable and amazing hundreds of years ago often doesn't age very well. It is amazing what we revere once we examine it a bit more.
So glad to have another enthusiast of Saints and Popes Comedy!! I'm forever delighted by them.
About 30% of all the Popes are also Saints. When you read stories about either of them it is not a shock that the Venn Diagram has a lot of overlap. It is also not surprising that the Vatican seems vague about the process of making it into either camp :) Catherine of Siena in the modern world would have a padded room at Bellevue just for her ring story alone.
Another great interview! Thanks, CK and Allison.
Thx for reading and commenting. 🥰
Thank you for this introduction to Allison. I've been a fan of her Substack for some time!
Carissa,
Thanks for introducing us to so many great writers. I love this series of yours.
Thank you CK for sharing the hilarious Allison with us! Even the way she have us her social handles made me laugh!
I love that you are introducing us to the funny women on Substack. I look forward to checking out her newsletter.
Thx. 🥰
I LOVE this! I am SO down to read ALL her books! Thank you for the amazing post!!!
🥰
I’ve definitely slipped a few choice words into a lecture. Whenever my high schoolers swear i always admonish them by telling them they can only swear about history.
Haha. 🤣
"I love this picture because it looks like I’m getting ready for my 60-minute Netflix special but really I’m leaning against the wall of a Mexican restaurant and I don’t know what to do with my face ever."
That quote wins the internet today, along with all the images you've included in your interview 😂😂 But mostly the unfortunate onion picture. This was gold! Thank you for sharing it!
Thank you!! I think like once a day about what the "unfortunate" was. One can only imagine the horrors.
😂😂
Thx for reading and commenting! 🥰
Baba Yaga, my favorite character in a fairy tale!
Yay!
Allison, I love the idea of hysterical historical humor. Just subscribed...now to decide....nighttime before go to bed reading...daytime when I should be doing my own writing....with wine....or just anytime! Thanks, CK, for this introduction. You've just broadened my world!
You will love her stack.
That's the best part about history: it's always there being ridiculous whenever you're ready to dive in! Thanks so much for subscribing :)
1. Baba Yaga is the ancient old witch from like Slavic fairy tales who lives in a house on chicken legs, wears giant scarves, eats a lot of soup, hates everyone, and curses strangers for coming into her yard. I identify with her on a deep and existential level. Forget cottagecore; let's make 2024 the year of CroneCore. Let me stay inside with my soups and my blankets and my malaise.
2. I feel like every school board in America would have a problem with me right now, but some of my former middle school teachers do subscribe to the newsletter!!
I had a book of fairy tales with Baba Yaga. She was frightening to me in a way other witches were not. Baba Yaga was the mother of all witches.
I will subscribe. In my family I'm a notorious bad punster and a history nerd.
I'm so glad you're joining the nonsense! Puns of all levels of quality are always welcome!
Thx fr explanation!
Fab that your former teachers subscribe!